Klimke and Ahlerich One Tempi Changes - 1984 Olympics

The famous one tempi changes by Reiner Klimke and Ahlerich during their victory lap at the 1984 Olympics. Courtesy of Carol L. Orwig.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Dressage
• Klimke
• Ahlerich
• Olympics

[karenzipkas]

equimusic - thank you so much for sharing this video and getting it out there - I am sharing it as much as I can - what a delight to see dressage, that is so beautifully light, harmonious.... :)

[equimusic]

You're welcome! And thanks for spreading the "gospel". :)

[1tempi]

I have been searching for video of this ride and victory lap FOREVER! I put this performance right up there with Secretariat's win at the Belmont as my all-time favorite equine events ever. Klimke and Ahlerich show exactly what dressage should be about - obedience, suppleness, and IMPULSION. This was a horse/rider pair for the ages and I feel so privileged to have been able to see this. Thanks again for posting this series of videos.

[equimusic]

You're welcome and glad you enjoyed watching the "master" at work!

[Yzenrider]

Most beautiful is the lack of Rollkur, the horses nose pushing into the bit, slightly ahead, relaxed poll no evasion of the bit by tucking into the chest. Love it, love it, love it. Wonder if we can ever get back to it?

[HeatherHMW]

Wow... I honestly didn't know tempi changes *could* and are probably *supposed to* be so fluid and free. The modern horses perform them with a lot more hesitation and "lag time" between strides. Here, if you cover up the horse's legs, it looks like a very natural forward canter. The rider is also so relaxed and his cues are truly effortless. Thanks for the link to this, FuglyHorseoftheDay!

[bonnieblue716]

So effort less for both horse and rider. The horse must have been very talented but more importantly he was taught to carry himself correctly and was brought along to have the muscle tone and fitness to move this well. I love how forward this horse is and how he carries his gaits himself. Horses today rely so much on leg to create the gait, impulsion, and movement instead of being taught to stabilize themselves. It must have been truly incredible to work with a horse like this.

[hackneysaregreat]

One of the really big moments in equine sports history..

[faybie5]

Best Rider in the World, unmatched in Skill, Respect and Love for the Horses!!! THIS IS CLASSICAL RIDING, no wild stomping around in the Arena, no pulling and stiff hands, no permanently using of the spurs !!!! GOLD it was for then, for now and forever!!!!!!!

[superxderp]

@RussianSportHorses would you happen to have a link? out of curiosity I searched for a dressage victory lap from WEG and couldn't find any :/

[walk4trot2canter3]

What a cool dude! And Klimke's not to shabby himself!

[workingdogbarney]

that are by far the best a tempi changes i have ever seen. the last real dressage riding artist of the competitive riders.

[1soesdalgaard]

Oh dear - its absolutely stunning, breath taking. Beautiful, beautiful dressage riding. I get goosebumps every time I watch this victory lap. I can only repeat everybody else - as dressage was meant to be. 

[Beatlemaniac001]

love how he's doing all that with one hand whereas nowadays you see people gripping on for dear life!

[elrenia02]

ein Traumpaar wie es selten vorkommt! Dr. Reiner Klimke war ein feiner und sympathischer Mann, dem ich die Erfolge immer sehr gegönnt habe. Ich habe den Goldritt 1984 seinerzeit als Mädchen am Fernsehen verfolgt und diese Ehrenrunde heute noch einmal zu sehen, treibt mir Tränen der Rührung in die Augen.

Was für ein großartiges Paar Ahlerich und Dr. Reiner Klimke waren!

Mögen sie in Frieden Ruhen!

[Heath19792008]

As it should be!!!